A/N: I must warn you. This fic is darker than normal. It features a character that is seriously messed up in the head. So if you don't want to read something that describes people being killed and bad things happening to Jane and Maura then I suggest you press the back button. This is rated M for a reason, and not in the good way.

XXXXX

"Maura!" A tall, dark haired man stood up from the table he sat at. "It's good to see you!" He was her date for the evening. They had met yesterday when it was her turn to pick up coffee and they had chatted pleasantly in line. When she had picked up her order he asked her out to dinner, which she accepted amiably.

"Same here," she responded as she sat down at the seat he pulled out for her.

"Did you get a haircut? It looks great!"

"Oh, thanks, yeah. I just got it done a few hours ago." She reached up and touched the newly cut locks.

He nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"What?"

"I uh… saw you, when I walked by the haircutting place earlier today."

"Oh. What were you doing by there?"

"I was just, uh, picking up some stuff. You know, normal errands."

Maura just nodded, not detecting anything unusual about the man.

"Can I get you something to drink?" The waitress said, readying her pen over the pad.

"Yeah, we'll take a glass of your best burgundy."

"Alright, I'll be right back with that."

"Excellent choice," Maura complimented, "but I am perfectly capable of ordering for myself."

"Oh," he frowned, "sorry about that."

"It's okay, but now you know." She smiled at him.

A few minutes passed by in a sort of awkward silence as they looked over their menus. The waitress came by with the drinks and they thanked her and ordered their food.

"So, what do you do?" Maura asked after taking a sip of her wine.

"I'm a dentist, specializing in cosmetic dentistry." He smiled, showing off his perfect teeth.

"Impressive."

"Thanks. And you?"

"I'm the Boston Chief Medical Examiner."

"Wow… Can't say I'm surprised though. I knew when I met you that you'd have a fantastic and impressive job." He smiled over at her.

"Well… looks like you were right." She said.

"And you're beautiful too."

Maura looked down, a blush creeping up on her face. "Thank you."

"You like your job?"

She nodded her head. "Very much. I haven't gotten much work lately, though. Not very many murders these past few weeks."

He frowned at that. "What made you get into that field?"

"Well, I had always been intrigued by the human body and I love science. I went to medical school but soon realized that I couldn't work with live patients as I'm just not that good with people. So I took my knowledge and became a forensic pathologist."

"Wow. That's amazing." He nodded.

"What about you?"

"My father was a dentist. I helped him out sometimes and guess I just fell in love with it."

They kept chatting about their lives until the food got there and then the subject switched to the restaurant and which other one's they've been to.

They chatted until near closing time and, as she had taken a cab to get there, he offered to drive her home.

He got out of his car and hurried to her side of the car. He opened the door and offered her his hand. After leading her to her door he stood there while she pulled the keys out of her purse.

"Thank you for the great night, Colin."

He shook his head. "No… you made the night great, Maura." He leaned in for a kiss.

She followed suit.

"I love you." He whispered before their lips met.

It took a second for the words to register. Maura pushed him back. "What!"

"Maura, you're beautiful, smart, funny: the girl of my dreams. It didn't take long for me to fall in love with you."

"We just met yesterday."

"Yes but," he took her hands in his. "I feel like I've known you forever."

It was a little weird, she'd admit. But it was also kind of sweet. "Uh, well," she didn't really know what to say, "thanks for dinner. Goodnight." She unlocked her door and went inside. He came on a little strong, she noticed, but otherwise he seemed like a good guy.

After pondering it while she was getting ready for bed she decided that, if he were to ask her out again, she would accept. After all, people deserve second chances, right?

XXXXX

Maura woke up and went through the normal motions required for the start of a work day. After feeding Bass and getting herself some breakfast she went outside. On her doorstep she found some flowers. She picked them up, brought them inside and put them in a vase. There was a card stuck between some petals.

Thanks for the wonderful night, Maura. I hope we can do that again sometime. – Colin.

Maura smiled at the thoughtful gesture before finally grabbing her things and leaving.

She arrived at the station and went straight to autopsy. She was not surprised to find her queue empty.

"Hey, Maura." Jane said, entering the room. "Uh, these came for you." She gave the M.E. a basket containing various chocolates and candles.

"Oh, wow, really?" She looked confused. Her look turned to slight uneasiness as she read the attached card.

Have a good day at work, sweetie. I miss you. – Colin.

"What's the matter?" Jane asked, seeing the look.

"Oh, it's just – this guy I went out with last night. I think he's showering me with gifts so I'll give him a second chance."

Jane winced at the thought of Maura on a date with someone that wasn't her. "Are you?" Please say no, please say no, please say –

"I think so, yes."

Jane deflated. "Whatever, just be careful. You never know what kinda crazies are lurking around h- " She was cut off by her phone. "Rizzoli."

Maura's phone rang a second later. "Dr. Isles."

"Be right there." Jane hung up. She waited for a moment for Maura to do the same. "Dead body. You too?"

Maura nodded.

They left and drove to the crime scene.

XXXXX

"God!" Jane said when she spotted the body of a woman. It was relatively hidden as it was behind a dumpster in an alleyway. Her body was sliced in two. Her bottom half was a few feet away from the top half and her entrails spilled out onto the pavement. The maggots found it before they did, it seemed, as one wormed its way out of the right eye socket.

"Yes, this is rather gruesome." Maura commented.

"What is – oh!" Frost walked over to the body, immediately holding his hand to his mouth and running out of the crime scene.

"This time," Jane remarked, "I don't blame him." She watched Maura examine the body for a moment before doing her part of the job. She poked around and in the dumpster, looking for anything that might help explain what happened here. The only thing she found was a bloody chainsaw in the dumpster.

When they left Maura did a double take when she thought she saw someone familiar but, when she turned back, the person was gone.

XXXXX

"Wanna get lunch before you start on this guy?" Jane asked. It was almost 11:30 and she knew that an autopsy took a few hours.

Maura took a look at the body bag and then put it in a storage freezer. "Sure. There's this new café right down the street that I've been wanting to try out."

They walked out and to the elevators. A ding indicated their floor and they headed out. Before they opened the door, however, Jane spotted Frost.

"Hey Frost! We're gettin' lunch? Want anything?"

He turned green and shook his head.

Jane laughed. Though, while she was never as squeamish as he was, she knew how he felt. There had been a couple of crime scenes that caused her to almost lose her lunch when she first started working homicides but, after a while, she got used to it. Now she doesn't bat an eye at going out to eat after visiting a murder scene.

The walk to the café was short. There were two people ahead of them, which gave them enough time to decide on one of the many sandwich options available.

They ordered and got their sandwiches, turkey for Jane and portabella mushroom for Maura.

The seat they decided on was near the entrance of the café, though not so close as to be bugged by incoming patrons.

"How long you think it'll take you to get a cause of death?" Jane asked seriously. Even though it seemed obvious at the crime scene she knew Maura takes no chances with her autopsies.

"A few hours probably."

"I can help you out with that. Cause of death? Motherfucking chainsaw." She laughed before taking a bite of her sandwich.

"Jane!" Maura admonished, trying to hide a smile.

"I know, I know. I was just trying to make a joke. You know, lighten the mood a little."

"Forensics is serious work, Jane." Maura said, still trying to fight the urge to giggle at the decidedly ribald humor.

Jane just smirked, knowing that Maura found it funny anyway, and popped the last bit of her sandwich in her mouth before taking a sip from her soda.

They talked for a bit longer after they were done eating, both wanting to extend their break for just a little more, until Maura spotted someone familiar.

"Oh! Colin!" She waved him over after he had gotten his coffee. He came over quickly. "I want you to meet Jane, my coworker and best friend."

"Nice to meet you." Jane said warily, offering her hand. "Jane Rizzoli."

"Colin Howell." He shook her hand.

"Colin's a dentist. One of the top dental implant specialists in the northeast."

"Maura, please, I'm blushing." He joked.

"And how do you two know each other?" Jane asked, confused at the two of them.

"Oh! Colin's the one I went out with the other night. You know, the coffee shop guy?"

"Oh yeah." Jane remembered. Maura had come back with the coffee absolutely beaming. After she had told Jane what she was so happy about the detective was seething with jealousy. She tried to forget about that. She previously hoped it was just a horrible dream.

"You've been talking about me Maur-Maur?"

"Yeah," Jane rolled her eyes at the pet name. "She can't stop talking about you." She said semi-sarcastically.

"Well then, it looks like we have something else in common." He looked deeply in her eyes and smiled like a fool in love.

It was a little creepy, Jane thought. Here she was, trying to have a nice lunch with her best friend and then he just had to show up and be all lovey-dovey with Maura. She felt a little sick at the scene.

"So, Maura, are you doing anything tonight?" Colin asked.

"I don't know… am I?" She responded flirtatiously.

"Dinner? I'll cook."

"You cook too? I can't wait."

"Great! I'll text you my address. Say, seven?"

"Seven sounds great!"

"Perfect!"

He leaned down and placed a kiss on Maura's lips.

Jane looked away as she tried to hold off her gag reflex. "Can I talk to you for a second, Col." Jane said, standing up, when they pulled away. Her tone expressed faked friendliness.

"Sure thing, Jane." He spit back in the same tone. "Excuse us, honey." He said to Maura as he put down his drink on the table. They entered a part of the café that was not occupied.

"You stay away from her." Jane said, her voice was low and her eyes were serious.

"Is that a threat?" He laughed.

"You're damn right it is. You so much as touch her and I'll – "

"You'll what?" He cut her off before grinning and stepping closer to her. He leaned in so his face was inches from Jane's. "There's not a thing you can do to keep me from her." He whispered before pulling away.

"There's not a thing I won't try." She retorted.

"Oh really?" He smirked and balled his hand into a fist. He brought it up, readied for a punch. "Same here."

Jane shifted backwards, her hands went up, ready for a fight.

He swung and hit himself across the jaw.

"What the - ?"

He slammed himself against the wall and placed three more hits to his mouth in quick succession. He turned his head to spit out blood.

"What the hell are you doing?" She looked on, incredulous to the scene in front of her.

He just laughed before striking himself against the eye, causing his eyebrow to split open. Blood gushed out and flowed down his face.

"Help! Somebody help! Maura!" He screamed and punched himself again. "Ow! Police brutality!"

"Oh no! Stop it! You better – " She pulled out her gun and pointed it at him. "Stop!"

"Help me! She's got a gun! Please don't shoot!" He cried out.

"I'll shoot you if you don't stop this right n – "

"Jane!" Maura scolded, coming into the back where she heard screaming. "What did you do to him!"

"I didn't do anything!" She holstered the gun quickly before putting her hands up in defense.

She narrowed her eyes at the other woman. "So you just expect me to believe that he did this to himself? Do you think I'm stupid, Jane?"

"No! I don't think you're – but he really did – "

"Enough!" She held up her hand. "I understand that this is hard for you, Jane. But someone new has come into my life and you are going to have to get used to it."

"I'm fine with you dating, Maura. I just don't want you to date him!" She spat out, glaring at the man.

"Why don't we go, Maura." Colin said gently, grabbing her arm to try and get her to follow.

"I can't. I have to get back to work." She pulled her arm back and saw his worried look. "I'll be fine. I'll see you later."

"Okay. See you later, mi amor." He leant over and gave her another kiss.

"Bye." Maura watched him leave the café.

"Maura," Jane sighed. "I don't think this is such a good idea. I mean you just met him and now you're going over to his house?"

"You're just jealous." Maura stated.

"What!" Jane reeled back. "How did – " She shook her head. "That's not the point!"

"It makes sense." Maura stated. "Before I met him I spent all my time with you. Now you'll need to share me."

"Share you! That's not it at all! The problem is is that this guy's a creep!"

"Don't say that about him! You hardly know him!"

"I don't need to know him to know that there's something off about him." She took Maura's hands into her own. "Maura, I deal with creeps and crazies for a living. I have a lot of experience with this. I'm just worried about you."

"I'll be okay, Jane." She said, trying to reassure her friend.

"Yeah, maybe, but I don't think it's a good idea for you to go to his house when you barely know him."

Maura just shook her head. "I don't know what's wrong with you today, Jane, but I think it's best if we keep our distance for a while." She turned and headed out.

"Maura…" Jane said to retreating figure. She didn't know how she could convince Maura that she was not the bad guy. She looked around the room as an idea struck her but was quickly struck down when there were no security cameras in sight.

She trudged back to the station, thinking hard about the situation.

XXXXX

Maura entered her lab. She glanced over to the refrigeration unit where the body was being stored and decided to head to her computer to check her email before she got started on the autopsy. After answering a few routine emails she opened one with an unfamiliar email address.

Dearest Maura,

I hope that beast of a woman you are forced to work with has not harmed you in any way. If you need me to stop by your workplace I will cancel all my appointments for today to keep you safe. I cannot wait until tonight.

Love,

Colin

Maura was a little unsure about how to feel about this. She knew he was just trying to be sweet and show that he cares but, once again, it came off too strong. She wrote a response, saying that there was no need to come over and that she was looking forward to tonight's dinner.

She closed her laptop and got to work on the body.